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May 2013 Newsletter |
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Comments from Dan |
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The older you get one realizes that
something someone thinks is "New" is actually something "Old" or
been around for sometime. Not too long ago I received an email
asking me about the "shrugging shoulders" effect and was this a new
thing.
Those that have been around awhile
(like me) know that shrugging shoulders is not new. In fact I
remembered doing a blog about it and sent the link to the person who
emailed me. Seeing that post, I thought I would share it in this
month's newsletter.
What is New Is Old - Shrugging Shoulders
Enjoy the rest of the newsletter.
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Ventriloquist Central Presents...
A Frank Marshall Tribute DVD
“The DVD arrived today
and its better than even I had expected. Great job!”
Chuck Lyons
Channahon, IL
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"Yes I did receive the
DVD and what a joy it was to watch. Extremely
entertaining and information packed. Another quality
product form Ventriloquist Central."
Cheers
Darren Carr
Comedy Ventriloquist |
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"Hello Dan...rec'd the
DVD of Marshall this p.m. Watched and listened to it
this evening. A very nice job. Plenty of great photos
and a nice history of Franks career. You & Steve made a
wonderful story for the folks."
Bob Isaacson
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Blogs You May Have
Missed On Ventriloquist Central |
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Austin Phillips “Rocko” Ventriloquist Figure
We showed you a picture of Austin with
a ventriloquist figure he built. Because of all the questions about
Austin’s figure ” Rocko”, he sent me these pictures so you all could
see his figure better than the one picture that I took. |
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Martha McCown Ventriloquist Figure Patent July 31 1937
Back in 1937 a woman named Martha
McCown by way of her attorneys Mock & Plum filed with the US Patent
Office the plans for a Ventriloquist’s Dummy. I found this most
interesting to both read and look at the drawings. This woman wanted
to produce an inexpensive toy but after reading everything there is
no way that this was going to be produced for a low cost. It is just
too involved....
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Are Known Ventriloquist Figures Of Importance
It really is funny but it seems that
when folks look at the figures in the Ventriloquist Central
Collection I am asked if I like to get figures that have a genuine
history with famous ventriloquists that owned them. The answer is of
course it is a great thing to know the true origins of ownership for
a ventriloquist figure but it is not something that is a top
priority for me....
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Ventriloquist Rey Ortega and The Scat Cat
Ventriloquist Rey Ortega posted this
video and we wanted to share it with everyone. This is Rey with his
own creation, The Scat Cat. As you can see Rey does great work.
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other blogs last month, so be sure to check them
all out, just in case you might have missed one.
April Archives
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Missed one of the monthly Ventriloquist Central
Newsletters?
Here
are the Archives!
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“The ULTIMATE Guide To
Building Your Own
Ventriloquist Figure, Volume 1”
"Steve's course is very
good too! You can actually see projects being worked on
and see how he handles them instead of just reading
about it (not that the books aren't worth having too!)."
Gary Koepke
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“The ULTIMATE
Guide To Building Your Own Ventriloquist Figure, Volume 1” is a
step-by-step system from start to finish, so you can create your
very own ventriloquist figure. Now you can become a
ventriloquist figure builder. This guide will answers all your
questions, show you all the short-cuts, and give you a quick and
easy paint-by-the-numbers way to making your own ventriloquist
figure-- even if you don’t think you can do it.
"Hi Steve,
I purchased the “The ULTIMATE Guide To Building Your Own
Ventriloquist Figure, Volume 1”, from you last year and
have finished my dummy now.
It has not taken that long to do but I have only been
able to do little bits to it here and there so thats
where the months have gone.
I would love to take this opportunity to thank you for
putting this course together. Building a dummy has been
a long term ambition of mine right from child hood when
I used to make cardboard dummies.
Now all I need to finish the one I have made from your
course is to clothe him. As soon as I have clothes for
him I will send some photos for you to see.
Any way thanks again and look forward to hearing from
you in the future."
Regards
Shane West
www.unclezoobee.co.uk |
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"The DVD course is
everything your advertisement claims it to be! It is
truly worth much more than the amount asked! Thank you
very much."
Theo Roos
South Africa
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"Steve, I purchased
your Ultimate Guide To Building Your Own
Ventriloquist Figure Vol.1 DVD's just over five
months ago. Let me first say, these are a MUST HAVE! I
have always wanted to build my own figure and your DVD's
gave me the confidence to get started as well as
valuable information with the whole process! I took your
advice on using the Fast Mache' method and it works!
That advice in itself saved me a lot of frustration
since this was my first time at figure making. I now
know I can begin my second figure and it will be even
more exciting than the first one. The information in the
Ultimate Guide DVD's are invaluable! I enjoy watching
them over and over again to gain more insight on figure
building. I can't wait to get into the mold making
process and duplicate one of my own figure heads! The
Ultimate Guide DVD's were exactly what I was looking for
and needed! Thanks so much for creating them. You truly
are an inspiration to me with all the nuts and bolts of
information you share in order to produce a
ventriloquist figure."
Thanks Again!
Ron Cataldo
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“The ULTIMATE Guide To Building Your Own Ventriloquist Figure, Volume 1”
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Just For Fun |
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More Ventriloquism
Cartoons from David Ford
Click here to see cartoons
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Ventriloquist
Marketplace |
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The Ventriloquist Marketplace |
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bit of activity on the
Ventriloquist Marketplace. In fact, one figure I listed
sold within a couple of hours of listing it, so be sure you keep
checking it out.
"Our Ventriloquist Marketplace works
and works consistently when items are priced right."
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Here are a
few of the items that are listed on the Ventriloquist
Marketplace:
Basswood Ventriloquist Project
1966 Knucklehead Smiff by Paul Winchell
The Art of the Puppet by Bill Baird
Alien Dummy
Used Mouse Puppet
Original Paul Winchell's book "Ventriloquism For Fun and Profit"
Great Kid Show Puppets
Professional Vent Figure
PLUS MANY MORE!!!
Be sure to check these and other
items on the.... |
Ventriloquist Marketplace |
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Pictures of Figures Added to the Website |
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Al Semok Little Girl Ventriloquist Figure
Al Semok, the Dummy Doctor, has made some great ventriloquist
figures over the years and today I would like to share a rather fine
example of his work. This figure is quite possibly the smallest
rather loaded figure he has produced. It is a girl figure and is so
sweet and proportioned just right for walk around ventriloquism.
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Walter Walters Jr. Frank Marshall Figures Now In the Ventriloquist
Central Collection
Back in the vaudeville days one of the more famous ventriloquists
was Walter Walters. He was married to Emily Carlin and they had a
son named Walter Walter Jr his real name was Walter Olsen Jr. He too
became a ventriloquist and worked the vaudeville circuit with his
two Frank Marshall figures named Mary Lou and Woody....
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Rare Trevor Wilson Ventriloquist Figure
One of the best known ventriloquists
from Australia is Darren Carr. He has been performing for many years
and has been all over the world. Today I am pleased to show you all
a very fine little fellow that was made for Mr Carr by Trevor Wilson
back some 20 years or so ago. Trevor Wilson worked for Chatterbox
Puppets which are not in business any longer.
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Ventriloquist Central Videos
Here you can view videos of ventriloquists of all kinds
from the amateur, the semi pro and the pros. Just about
anything to do with ventriloquists and ventriloquism,
you’ll find here at Ventriloquist Central Videos. |
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VentriloquistCentralVideos.com
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Videos From
Ventriloquist Central |
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Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – Frank Marshall
“Freshy” Mechanics
Here’s a video showing Frank
Marshall’s “Freshy” mechanics. A great look inside the head.
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Ventriloquist Central Video – Brian Hamilton Female Figure Headstick
I showed you a video of a female
ventriloquist figure created by Brian Hamilton and here is a video
showing the headstick of this female figure.
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Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series –
John R. Schaibley Date Books
Here’s a video showing John R.
Schaibley’s date books. He wrote the book, “Memoirs of a
Ventriloquist.”
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Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – Alfred LeMare,
Oldest Figure in Collection
Here’s a video showing an Alfred
LeMare ventriloquist figure. It’s the oldest figure in the
Ventriloquist Central Collection. In today’s collector world of
ventriloquist figures there are a few very rare figures and one is
the Alfred LeMare.
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Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – Mechanics of a Fully
Loaded Marshall
Here’s a video showing the mechanics
of a fully loaded Frank Marshall ventriloquist figure. It has the
following functions, slot jaw, side to side self centering eyes,
crossing eyes, winkers, individual blinkers, raising eyebrows,
wiggling ears, upper lip smile and stick out tongue.
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Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series – John Schaibley’s
Louis Grannat Figure
Here’s a video showing John
Schaibley’s first ventriloquist figure built by Louis Grannat. He
purchased this figure sometime around 1915 when he was a lad of
about 15. He of course went on to use both Mack and Marshall figures
but this was his first.
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Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series –
Howie Olson’s Skinny Dugan
Here’s a video showing Howie Olson’s
Skinny Dugan ventriloquist figure that was once owned by Clinton
Detweiler.
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Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series –
Jay Marshall’s Ken Spencer Figure
Here’s a video showing Jay Marshall’s
Ken Spencer ventriloquist figure. This figure is in the exact
condition as it was for the better part of 60 years having been
repainted by Jay to look as he wanted him.
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Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series –
Conrad Hartz Marshallesque Figure
Here’s a video showing a Conrad Hartz
Marshallesque ventriloquist figure. There is no question that Conrad
Hartz was influenced as a builder of carved wooden figures by the
master Frank Marshall.
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Ventriloquist Central Video Collecting Series –
Ken Spencer’s Rolling Eyes
Here’s a video showing Jay Marshall’s
Ken Spencer ventriloquist figure and the rolling eyes mechanism.
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"What Would You Do If
Your
Ventriloquist Figure Were
Stolen Or Destroyed?"
Here's The
Best Way To Protect Your Investment
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For Those Interested In
The Art Of Ventriloquism
“The
Ventriloquism Historical Information Collection, Volume 1.”
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Final Thoughts |
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Happy Mother's Day....
This day only happens
once a year but every woman deserves the honor every day for all you
ladies do for us children. We can only become what we are because of
what you do for us as Mothers. Helping every day with anything that
we need and letting us know that you are always there anytime or any
place.
Thanks Moms everywhere on your special day.
Till next time,
Dan
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©2013 VentriloquistCentral.com |
